PHD 'pausing' Johnson & Johnson vaccine clinics, distribution

The Panhandle Health District said Tuesday that Johnson & Johnson vaccine clinics will be paused and its distribution to vaccine providers will pause as well due to health concerns.

The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department said it will stop using Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 in home vaccines until it receives "further guidance" from PHD.

“Vaccine safety is our No. 1 priority, so out of an abundance of caution we are pausing any administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” said Don Duffy, health services administrator for the Panhandle Health District. “More needs to be known about these rare blood clots and how healthcare providers can effectively treat them before we consider resuming.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are reviewing data for six reported cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The PHD has received 7,600 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and has distributed 4,425 doses to enrolled vaccine providers, including 250 doses to PHD clinics.

The first mass vaccine clinic using Johnson & Johnson vaccine scheduled for April 22 in Kootenai County has been put on hold.

The Department of Health and Welfare also recommended that Idaho vaccine providers not use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until more information is available from the CDC. 

In Idaho, 82,500 doses had been distributed, and 30,673 doses had been administered as of Tuesday morning.


“We are monitoring it very closely until we learn more,” said Dr. Christine Hahn, an infectious disease physician and Idaho’s lead epidemiologist.

Anyone who had an appointment to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is asked to postpone the appointment “until we learn more or consider getting a different vaccine.”

PHD does have available appointments for the Pfizer vaccine clinics.

“The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have not had this issue reported, and we recommend that Idahoans continue with their appointments to receive these critical vaccines,” Hahn said.


Some flu-like symptoms immediately after getting a vaccine are normal, according to DHW. But people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their doctor immediately, DHW said in a press release.


Of the six reports in the United States, one person has died, and another is hospitalized in critical condition. All of the patients were women between 18 and 48 years of age. Symptoms occurred 6-13 days after vaccination.

In a video conference on Tuesday, Hahn said it was important that Idahoans be aware that adverse reactions to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are “extremely rare.”

Hahn said DHW had not heard of any problems from those who have had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Idaho.

Nonetheless, DHW agreed to recommend pausing use of the vaccine.

“We want to make sure the public feels safe,” she said.

Meantime, according to the state’s website, 544,163 have received a vaccine in Idaho, with 372,534 of those fully vaccinated.

Hahn said the Pfizer vaccine may be ready for use for children ages 12 to 15 before the next school year.

Public Health Administrator Elke Shaw-Tulloch said the goal is to vaccinate 80% of Idaho’s population, but they are already seeing a shift in demand for the vaccine.

“Our approach will, of course, need to change,” she said.

To do that, she said the state may need to offer financial support to health care providers to increase vaccine clinics or provide mobile clinics.

It may also work with business owners to provide incentives, such as paid time off, for employees to get the vaccine.

Dr. Kathryn Turner, deputy state epidemiologist, said Idaho has had 133 “breakthrough cases,” which are when someone vaccinated against the coronavirus gets it, anyway.

She said that only represents a fraction of those fully vaccinated in the state. Five were hospitalized and one person died. About half reported no symptoms, with the rest reporting mild to moderate symptoms.

Turner said because no vaccine is 100% effective, and COVID-19 is still circulating, breakthrough cases should be expected to continue.